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I remember reading a while back, he was manic-depressive. From what I understand, when you're up..you are waaaaay up and when you are down (depressed) you are waaaay down. It's very extreme. Breaks my heart that he felt that bad that he had to die.

I met him about 14 years ago at a film festival. He was very nice and gracious, but his wife at the time (ex-nanny)was behaving arrogantly and above-it-all. Such a contrast and I remember thinking, wtf is he doing with her?

His publicist issued a statement that he had been suffering from depression.

Also part of the statement

In a statement, Williams’ wife Susan Schneider said she is “utterly heartbroken” over the death of her husband and best friend. She said the world has lost “one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings.”

“On behalf of Robin's family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions."

RIP you big bear. Even though I was not a fan of his stand up, he was a very good actor. And he married in the last few years yes? Tragic to go out that way. Much peace to the children he leaves behind.

I was 14, sick & home from school, when I first saw Robin perform on the Alan Hamel show in 1977. (Alan is married to Suzanne Somers and had a schlocky afternoon talk/variety show way back when in Canada). He was amazing and he completely captivated me.

For months I couldn't stop talking about him. I tried to find out more, but no one knew what I was talking about. Fast forward to August of the same year and I read in the paper that Robin Williams was opening up for a band at the Ex. I freaked! Told everyone to buy tickets to see this guy. I'm waiting for tickets to go on sale, and plan to be first in line... then another ad appeared in the paper with a photo of Robin Williams, the opening act. It was a woman. A singer. I practically wept... Not too long after he landed Mork & Mindy and I seized the opportunity to tell everyone, "I told you so."

Dead Poets Society is one of my favorite novels; Williams brought it to life perfectly for film. RIP.

"To quote from Whitman, 'O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?' Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”

I only recently watched Goodwill Hunting(don't judge), excellent film. People say Robin was a great comedic actor, he was a brilliant actor PERIOD and that movie was evidence of it. He seemed to have a lot of heart on screen. I'll always remember him from one of my childhood favorites....Jumanji!

There's no excuse for losing someone to suicide like this anymore, not if the afflicted one has any kind of support system left. Even the blackest, most painful depressive cycles can be blunted with high enough dosages of SSRI's and anti-anxiety meds. You'll have to come down eventually and deal with the bleakness of your issues, but you won't kill yourself in the meantime.

The only way to kill yourself by asphyxiation is taping a plastic bad around your head. How horrible. I am incredible sad, that he didn't feel the joy he brought everyone. My favorite of his films is Fisher King. So sad

"I understand you are angry right now, but you obviously do not understand that type or level of depression."

Sadly, I do. I'm speaking from experience. Jack someone up on enough meds and they won't kill themselves. It's not a permanent solution, but they'll survive to work their way through their problems, hopefully.

Mind you, people who struggle with systemic manic-depression or plain ol' permanent neurochemical depression, well, from what I've seen fighting that war can wear you down to the point that it's more a case of euthanasia than suicide.

It makes me so, so sad, but I get it. I'm married to a brilliantly funny man who fights depression like a son of a bitch. If we didn't have kids to live for, I don't know if he'd fight it so hard. I'm sure Robin DID try to fight for his family's sake - that make his death even sadder. Those of us who are parents know that if you can't do it (fight depression or addiction or other issues) for your kids, you've got to be in a truly dark place. Shine on, you crazy diamond. Hope he's found peace and release from his pain.

RIP to a true genius. I have friends who worked with Robin and have heard nothing but great things. Such a tragedy and loss.

Robin Williams on Inside The Actors Studio

1. What is your favorite word?Cloaca... it's part of a bug, it's a combination of a vagina and asshole

2. What is your least favorite word?Cunt... it's so negative

3. What turns you on?My wife's laugh

4. What turns you off?Violence towards children

5. What sound or noise do you love?*fart sound*

6. What sound or noise do you hate?Screeching brakes... it implies that something bad is about to happen.

7. What is your favorite curse word?Pussy... it's so warm

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?Neurologist or theoretical physicist

9. What profession would you not like to do?Bomb tester

And FINALLY:

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?There's seating near the front... or, just to know there's laughter, that would be a good thing. To hear God say "Two Jews walk into a bar..."<3

Come on B, meds are not always the answer. Obviously Robin was In A very very dark place with his fighting his addiction and also being manic. One can't pass judgement or know what another feels when in that desperate state. Man, I am really torn up about this and not even a huge fan. Just the thought that this man, who was so loved by so many, couldn't find a way to go on is absolutely heartbreaking. Mental health in this country needs to be taken seriously!

I'm crushed. RW wasn't on my radar for a while and then that show the Crazy Ones came on tv. I absolutely loved it. He seemed so fit and happy and funny on that show. I was crushed when it was cancelled and now I'm genuinely saddened to hear this terrible news. I feel very bad for his young daughter. Such a sad,sad day.

It's impossible to understand unless you've been there yourself, trapped in that dark spiral, unable to see any relief ahead. In the blackest moments, life seems to be a burden rather than the gift that it is.Rest in peace, Robin. My thoughts and prayers are with his children.

I was standing in the laundromat this evening when the Special Report came on, and I feel as if I've been sucker-punched. Losing someone like him would have been bad enough, but finding out it was suicide... :'-(

"Profane, you apparently have never been in the mindset where death seems to be the only option to get rid of the pain. Drug therapy is not a cure all, that is an extremely ignorant statement."

Unfortunately, I have, and my statement comes from brutal experience. Don't lecture me, I do know exactly what it's like to be there.

The drugs that are available now can blunt the seriously depressive downswings enough to prevent most suicides. Yes, people can slip through the cracks--my best friend blew his head off in high school and non of us knew he was that depressed. But these days, with the greater awareness of the symptoms of serious depression, if you've got any kind of support system left there should be someone around to drag you out and get put on the meds so that you'll survive. Wallowing in the old existential angst model of treating suicidal depression as inevitable is just irresponsible.

Send in the clowns*~SondheimFor it takes a wiseman to Play the fool~ShakespeareWhy do the acts keep getting longer..and the intermissions shorter?~Edward Lynch(my uncle who worked with robin in Jack..)

May you find bthe most glorious intermission th e afterlife can offer sirThat's all I'm adding..this had upset me..alot

I too have been there Profane, and no, medication does not solve it all. No one has said it is inevitable, but to say the drugs now available are enough to prevent it is ignorant. Even with a support system.

Could he have been overwhelmed by financial problems? In this article he says he took the TV show because he needed the money. He also had his Napa mansion up for sale since 2012, and recently reduced the price last month, because he said he could no longer afford to keep it.

You're welcome! That Pearly Gates quote really got me today and I wanted to share it. I'm trying to focus on all of the joyful moments that Robin contributed to our lives and to this world. HeisenHugs to my fellow sad CdaNers <3

@ count that was funny to read. Made me laugh a little... I think Robin's wicked sense of humor would have found it funny..

It's so sad...the guy was a comedic genius and I was such a huge fan of his work. I am usually unaffected by strangers' deaths. But I am very very saddened that he died and especially this way.

I remember about a few months ago I think, I had the privilege of reading one of robin's amas on reddit. I was crying tears from laughing so hard. His humor has always had that effect upon me though. I would encourage any true fans of his to look up his AMA on reddit and prepare to be thoroughly entertained. R.i.p. Robin! Godspeed, my friend!

I literally said OMG out loud when I read the news. @TriciaS I concur with your comments regarding the funniest people hide the greatest pain.Robin Williams was brilliantly manic. His old stand up routines were so fast and so sharp I thought he was going light speed on coke.Yes it is true the most gifted at making others laugh carry the deepest pain. I remember a singer who I had seen so many times in concerts and enjoyed say he himself had extreme highs and lows. I think some people would rather experience the full spectrum of life rather than medicate it to a dull even calm. In the end, the life is a gift. We can do with it as we will. Sometimes the pain gets too much, for some I can't blame them personally for wanting to get out. It is selfish on our parts to want someone to stick around when they want so badly to go.R.I.P. Robin Williams thanks for the laughs

When I heard he was going to rehab (in MN I think?) a month or so ago, I was afraid it would lead to something like this. RIP Mr. Williams. Thanks for the years of good times and great laughs. I wish you had been able to reach out to someone and let them know what was going on before falling this far. However, as a depressive with suicidal tendencies (and 8 years' clean & sober), I unfortunately understand how hard that can be.

Depression can't always be helped. There are people (like me) who are resistant to all anti-depressants and even to E.C.T. It can be a day to day struggle and it breaks my heart to see anyone lose that struggle because I know how awful it is to feel that hopeless. I want to smack anyone who goes on the knee jerk rant about how "selfish" suicide is;please shut up Todd Bridges.

Damn. Instantly thought of the last Enty blind revealed of him spotted on a flight shaking non stop and in really poor shape.

If he were in rehab as recently as 7/14 then I can only speculate how he went from there to where he ended up last night. *shudder*

I'm kind of surprised more people in this country don't consider euthanasia in their old age. I plan on it. I have no intent on suffering a slow, grueling, and painful death from a terminal illness. I'd rather pick and choose when and where. At least Williams was able to do that much.

@ B. Profane - Can you FOR ONCE put a sock in it? This is a place where people are gathering to post thoughts and feelings about an artist who touched our lives and you cannot resist YET AGAIN taking a hammer and building yourself a friggin' soap box so you can preach to your imaginary choir. Please don't make this a stage for yourself to pontificate endlessly about mental illness and wow us with your vocabulary of psychiatric terminology. You are not the only one who's suffered a loss. Say your piece about how Mr Williams did (or didn't) touch your life and then kindly STFU. THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU.

Let us not forget that many of us with depression DID get help Ans we may be doing everything we're supposed to -- meds, therapy, lifestyle changes, spirituality -- and the insidious beast that I call The Fog can still win. I would bet that Robin tried everything possible; he certainly had the means to do so. So very, very tragic.

With all due respect, this is not 100% true. We are finding that many people taking SSRIs, for example, eventually become absolutely immune to them. I personally have been on 15-20 various psychotropic meds, and I still cannot find the right treatment, and I still have dark thoughts from time to time. Sometimes the MI DOES win, sadly.

Robin, was it hard not to laugh at Hank Azaria during the making of "The Birdcage"?

[–]RobinWilliamsHere[S] 3058 points 10 months agoOH, it was really hard. His voice, that character, Agador Spartacus. It wasn't just me that had a hard time. Mike Nichols would laugh so hard they would have to put a blanket over his head. The other guy who was so funny was Gene Hackman. His speech about the leaves in New England was one of the funniest, driest pieces of comedy I'd ever seen.

[–]tellme_areyoufree 2021 points 10 months ago*x2Odd as it might sound, The Birdcage was a movie that played a part in making it ok to talk to my mom about being gay.

I remember the movie coming on on TV while mom and I were watching, and once I realized it was gay-themed I froze. We got through the movie and the entire time I was too afraid to laugh. At the end, my mom said something like (paraphrasing): "that was a funny movie. I never really thought of gay people as normal people with families." And I don't know why, but I blurted out "I have a family."

It didn't go easy from there, but to this day I'm amazed at the power comedy had (and has) to humanize. What is more human than laughing? Anyway, thank you.

So awful. It is amazing how many people he touched. Everyone has reacted to this. The man was a national treasure. I read part of an interview he did almost a year ago. He spoke of money troubles- that he'd given up so much in divorces that he had to sell a ranch he could no longer afford . He basically said he took the show after 30 years off tv to get a steady check because his choices were indie films with limited budget or distribution or going back on the road to do stand-up. I think that provides insight coupled with the rehab need, etc. He gave money to Christopher Reeve when he needed it & it's so sad with all the people he knew no one could help him out with money and emotional support. So sad someone who brought such joy to others didn't have that bright light in his life.

One of my all-time favorite quotes was his, "You're only given a small spark of madness. You mustn't lose it." (I THINK I quoted that correctly. I'm tired. I'm sure you've all heard what we're dealing with in STL. Between that and hearing of Robin's passing, "bummed" doesn't begin to cover it.)

@_-_=_ He was really an amazing man. I mean you read his responses and how mindblowingly funny some of them are and it's hard to grasp how someone who was so full of life, creativity and character is really no longer here. It is beyond shocking. I am not one given to tears, but this melted even my cold brittle heart.

I think I'm going to go check out the AMA and remember robin with some laughter. Thanks! ;-)

I am so sad. My daughter seemed surprised that I was so upset and I told her what a large part of my childhood he was- Happy Days, Mork and Mindy, and then those movies from my adulthood that I just love - Mrs. Doubtfire, Birdcage, Good Will Hunting, 9 months.

She then told me how sad she was too and listed the movies she loved him in - Dead Poets Society, Flubber, Aladdin, Jumanji, Hook, to name a few. I forgot how many genres he covered, and how many generations were his fans. RIP Robin. You will be missed.

I am so sad. My daughter seemed surprised that I was so upset and I told her what a large part of my childhood he was- Happy Days, Mork and Mindy, and then those movies from my adulthood that I just love - Mrs. Doubtfire, Birdcage, Good Will Hunting, 9 months.

She then told me how sad she was too and listed the movies she loved him in - Dead Poets Society, Flubber, Aladdin, Jumanji, Hook, to name a few. I forgot how many genres he covered, and how many generations were his fans. RIP Robin. You will be missed.

No real words, just sad. It got me when my 23 year old son said "Aladdin" was the first thing he thought of, only 63 and already a part of my childhood memories, and the next generations. How sad we won't know what else he could have been.

If he had bipolar disorder, but they medicated him for the depression he was suffering, it could have triggered a manic episode, and he could have thought he was out of it, then gone off the meds, and that's the time, as far as I know, when suicidality can strike hardest. Bipolar is way tricky.

The thing is, how do you know when you've worked through your problems? When you feel better? That's the trickiest part of mental illness. You want it to be over So Bad, and then it comes up from behind and takes you down. Yes, pump them full of thorazine and they'll live forever. But for a working person trying to live their lives, especially a genius like Williams, it's really hard to stay in a chair. You want autonomy, and when you feel better, you think you know better. It's so much more tricky than "take a pill and you'll be ok."

Death is easy, for the dead. It is life that is so hard for the living.Goodnight Mr. Williams...we don't say goodbye - we say "see you later". May Orson snap your rainbow suspenders through the pearly gates. I, for one, will smile through a tear until I can laugh with him in eternity.

The black box warning on SSRI meds expressly contradict your perspective, Profane. I hate that you went through what you did, but science has theorized at length about the variable neurochemistry of people. I tell ya-- St. Johns Wort pulled me out of a suicidal depression, but MAOIs are not first-line, and the SSRIs he would have been prescribed have a well-documented window for suicidality.

Someone walked by me today with a candy bar and Twizzlers. He said he got Twizzlers "because of Robin Williams." I had not heard that Robin had died, and had no idea what the reference was about, so I thought the polite response to someone making a vague joke I didn't understand would be to laugh. Now that I have found out he died, I feel very bad for laughing (I didn't know!), but what was the Twizzlers reference all about? All I can find online is Robin telling Jimmy Kimmel that he would buy Twizzlers with the negligible proceeds from doing improv, but it must have been more than that if Random Guy waving Twizzlers in my direction thought he was saying something I should have understood. Was licorice "big" in any of Robin's movies? Did Mork have a thing about licorice?

...

If only people could really see what they are worth to others....It's too bad the admiration and praise of family, friends, and strangers can't counteract the internal condemnation of self.

I read the most beautiful comment about depression on this website when a celebrity committed suicide (it might have been L'Wren) but I can't find it. I would like to quote it on a local website. It was something like like "depression will kill you right out in the open with everyone watching". Do you guys know which post I can find that comment on? It moved me and I think its important to share.

Robin - your legacy lives in the smile that spreads across someone's face when they think of you; in the wonderment that shines from a child's eye as he watches you; from the heartfelt laughter that erupts when one listens to you; from the creative inspiration when one imagines you.

Such a terrible loss - for everyone - of all ages.

I call on those artists who have worked with and been inspired by Robin Williams, to present a special tribute to his work --- ANDIn honour of Robin and his compassion for others --Use the event to raise awareness about depression / mental health issues, remove the stigma surrounding it.

RIP Robin! Your desire to make people smile and laugh even in their darkest moments - is compassion personified. You will always live in my memories and I will smile every time I think of you and your work.

Your legacy lives in the smile that spreads across someone's face when they think of you; in the wonderment that shines from a child's eye as he watches you; from the heartfelt laughter that erupts when one listens to you; from the creative inspiration when one imagines you.

Such a terrible loss - for everyone - of all ages.

I call on those artists who have worked with and been inspired by Robin Williams, to present a special tribute to his work --- ANDIn honour of Robin and his compassion for others --Use the event to raise awareness about depression / mental health issues, remove the stigma surrounding it.

RIP Robin! Your desire to make people smile and laugh even in their darkest moments - is compassion personified. You will always live in my memories and I will smile every time I think of you and your work.

Absolutely heartbroken. When I woke up this morning a saw this news I almost instantly thought "his heart" then I heard it was suicide. Damn dude. We'll never know why but I just hope you're at peace. Dang!!Favourite RW films, the birdcage, the big white, jumangi, Aladdin and flubbed so sad.

For those of you who read this blog and can make this happen...I just wanted to put this out there:

In honor of the multifaceted performer Robin Williams was, I hope on of the TV or Movie Academies out there considers establishing an award in his name to present to current and future successful and expandable performers such as the one he was.

I don't think there is anyone in this world that does not know his name or has seen his work in one form or another.

Robin Williams truly conquered various genres in his art form with such passion, inspiration and humor, that he deserves life-long recognition. Some of the areas he unleashed his talent on where TV, movies, Broadway, stand-up, animation and music. He also lent his time, energy and persona to charities and military support.

It would be great for future generations to be presented with the 'Robin Williams Award'.

His memory and efforts to make us all laugh, cry or wonder should continue to live on in the form of an amazing tribute. For he was much loved by all ages despite his personal battles with addiction and depression.

I would like to petition this or request it via social media. Won't you make it happen if you can?

If we ALL petitioned every comedian, actor, director, producer that ever worked with Robin Williams or was inspired by his genius -- We can make it happen.

I have already started to post threads on a few movie sites and personally tweeting a few actors -- to initiate a special tribute to him. I've sent messages to Forest Whitaker, Ben Stiller, Matt Damon.

I suggest - we each do the same.

What a great way to remember his talent but his compassion as well by coupling the remembering with raising awareness about depression and the stigma that surrounds speaking about it.

Just yesterday I met a really old man who is a recovering alcoholic, and the subject got around to the Dry Dock on Greenwich Street in SF, and I said I had seen Robin Williams in that area ... I thought he went to the Dry Dock where they have 12-step meetings. He used to ride his bike over to Marin and sometimes stop for coffee in my neighborhood.

Anyway, I told the old guy that my very first boyfriend was an alcoholic who killed himself, and he said that a significant percentage of alcoholics and addicts attempt suicide.

This conversation happened at 5 pm. Neither of us knew at the time that Robin Williams had committed suicide earlier yesterday ... and yet the subject of Robin Williams, alcoholism and suicide came up in the conversation.

I cannot remember being so affected emotionally by a famous person's death as I am by Robin Williams's death. It's so sad.

I had to say this as me and not a character, hence the change back to my normal name.

It's been a few days and everyone has said everything under the sun about Robin. From his career to his family to his addictions to his friends to the people he influenced, pretty much everything you can say about a person who lived.

People have been sad, which is a normal response. People have been confused as to why someone with so much could choose to end it all. Some people are angry that he denied them further enjoyment from his work. None of these feelings are wrong, all are right depending on the person.

While I wouldn't consider myself a fan of his later work, Robin's work from the 70's until the mid/late 80's is some of my favorite comedic output ever.

I love comedy (my bad attempts at jokes will show that) and know firsthand that hiding behind jokes is a natural reaction to depression. Why do you think I try to tell so many? "If you aren't laughing, you're crying" as the saying goes.

Whatever you feel from the news of Robin's death is the correct one. Just remember that the sun still rose the day after he was found and it will rise the day after that and that until the end of time. Tragedy plus time equals comedy. We have people making jokes about the Challenger, 9/11 and the Holocaust. Are they in bad taste? To some they are. But if you think about comedy the way Robin did, as long as they are funny and not directly made to hurt a person, then no.

One day, someone will make a joke about Robin's suicide and he'll be looking on from wherever we go after our time here is over, stop his wargame with Jonathan Winters for a moment and laugh his ass off and then probably say "I hope Mencia doesn't steal that one, too!"

I have to say this, I don't care if you are famous or of you are not famous, if you need someone to talk to I am here, no-one should have to feel so alone that this is the only option - seriously reach out - we are here

I drove past the Mrs. Doubtfire house the other day and it was like a shrine. There were about 50 people milling about, the front steps were COMPLETELY covered with flowers (I don't know how the residents get in and out, maybe through the garage), and there were inscriptions in chalk in the driveway and on the sidewalk. People were double-parking to get out and leave things and take pictures. It was very touching.